Terriers

This non-canine-centric show just needs to stretch its legs a bit.

Even with this setup, Dolworth and Pollack couldn't get a good TV signal in North Spokane

Terriers may not be a show about dogs, but it comes with a pretty amazing pedigree.

It’s created by Ted Griffin, the writer of one of the most fun, easy-going-banter movies ever created: Ocean’s Eleven. It’s produced by Shawn Ryan, the mastermind behind The Shield, the best loose-cannon cop drama ever. It’s on FX, the TV network with perhaps the best record for consistently high-quality original shows.

In its first episode, however, Terriers attempts to achieve greatness through amiability instead of intensity.

This is not The Shield. This is not Law and Order. This is The Big Lebowski.

Hank Dolworth (Donal Logue, The Tao of Steve) and Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James, True Blood) are struggling unlicensed private detectives who, inevitably, get caught up in cases way over their heads.

It’s a classic film noir setup — poor detective barely able to make rent stumbles up against the rich and powerful underworld. But Terriers does this with flannel instead of fedoras, with easy-going patter instead of hard-boiled monologues. The whole thing has a shaggy blue-collar feel. Dolworth and Pollack’s effortless chemistry makes exchanges like these far more entertaining:

Dolworth: “Hey, I need your help with something. Tune popped into my head this morning … For my life, I can’t remember the name of it“ Pollack: “Oh no. Come on. I’m hungover. I’m asking nicely.”

But even within Terrier’s lackadaisical pacing, seeds of serialization are planted. Logue hurls a murder accusation at the man who just hired them — a greedy, corrupt real estate developer. (On television and in the movies, is there any other kind?) “I’m going to destroy you … and I just wanted you to know that,” Dolworth says. Then, as he walks away, he clears his throat: “And I’m still going to cash the check.”

So Terriers has two options: Become a pretty entertaining procedural in a television landscape already brimming with them — or go serialized. Let our heroes learn what happens when they anger the wrong people. Let the class war begin. Let the scrappy underdogs nip at the heels of the wealthy and privileged. And watch the wealthy and privileged bite back.

Terriers (Wednesdays, 10 pm, FX)

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